Combined stretcher and stair chair



March 3, 1964 R. H. FERNEAU 3,122,758

COMBINED STRETCHER AND STAIR CHAIR Filed Nov. 15, 1962 2 Shee ts-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. RICHARD H. FERNEAU,

Arronnzys.

March 3,'1964 FERNEAU 3,122,758

COMBINED STRETCHER AND STAIR CHAIR Filed Nov. 13 1962 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. RICHARD H. FERNEAU,

ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,122,758 CQMFINED STRETCIEER AND STAIR CHAIR Richard H. Ferneau, Wasdngton Court House, Ohio, as-

signor to Ferno Manufacturing Company, Greenfield, Ohio, a corporation of Gino Filed Nov. 13, 1962, Ser. No. 235,860 10 Claims. (Cl. -82) This invention relates to emergency or invalid equipment, and has to do more particularly with a combination emergency stretcher and stair chair adapted to support a human body in either a prone or sitting position.

It is believed that the requirements for equipment of this character are generally understood, and broadly, it may be stated that the general object of this invention is the provision of a multiple purpose piece of equipment which is strong and sturdy, but still light in weight and readily convertible from one position of use to the other.

Specifically, it has been found that very often emergency facilities such as an ambulance, will be equipped with only a stretcher, due primarily to the lack of space to store additional equipment such as a stair chair. It is therefore a primary object of the invention to provide a single piece of equipment which is so constructed that it can be readily stored in collapsible condition and yet quickly set up for use as either a chair or a stretcher.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a stretcher-chair unit which can be converted from the stretcher position to the chair position, and vice versa easily and without disturbing a patient supported thereby.

Another object of this invention is to provide a piece of equipment which, though easily converted from a chair position to a stretcher position, will be positively secured in either position to insure maximum safety to a person carried thereon, and yet the construction is such that locks, latches and the like are essentially eliminated.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a combination stretcher-chair which may be folded into a very compact unit for convenient, out of the way storage in an ambu ance or the like.

These objects, along with others which will become apparent to the skilled worker in the art as this specification proceeds, are accomplished by the novel construction and arrangement of parts described hereinafter. Reference will be made to the accompanying drawings which show a specific embodiment of the invention, and inwhich:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the invention in its chair position.

FIGURE 2 is a detailed view of a portion of FIGURE 1 showing the hinge and sleeve construction,

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the invention in the stretcher position.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational View of the invention in the stretcher position.

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational View of the invention as folded for storage.

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational View illustrating the invention in a position midway between the stretcher position and the chair position.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the manner in which the wheels are secured to the frame.

This invention may be briefly described as having a frame constructed largely of tubular aluminum or similar light weight materials, so arranged that it may be set up as a chair (see FIGURE 1), a full-length stretcher (see FIGURE 3), or folded compactly for storage (see FIGURE 5). By way of example, a commercially acceptable stretcher has been produced which has an open length of 73" and a width of 13''. The folded dimen- 3,122,758 Patented Mar. 3, 1964 sions of this stretcher-chair are 38" high, 18" wide, and 4 /2 deep. The entire article, including the waterproofed covering material, Weighs only about 27 pounds.

Referring now more specifically to FIGURE 1, the stretcher-chair has been shown as set up in the chair position, with the fabric covering material removed for clarity. The back supporting frame it includes a pair of parallel hollow side members 11 and 12, joined at one end by the cross piece 13. Near their upper ends, the side members 11 and 12 are provided with handles 14. Each handle is pivotally mounted to the side member in a manner which will be described in more detail hereinafter in connection with the wheel mountings. It will at this time, however, be understood that the handles may be pivoted from a position as shown in FIGURE 1 to a position wherein they are approximately parallel to the cross piece 13, for compact storage.

Below the side members 11 and 12, and in axial alignment therewith, are a pair of sleeves 15 and 16. The sleeves i5 1-5 are hingedly secured to the side members 11 and 12, respectively, by the tubular hinge means 17 and 18. As more clearly seen in FIGURE 2, the hinge means 17 and 18 provide positive stops or abutments 18a when the side members 12 and 13 and the sleeves l6 and T7 are in coaxial alignment.

As can be best seen in FIGURES 1 and 6, a lower frame is provided which includes a pair of posts 19 and 2.5 These posts are of such a diameter that they will be slidably received in the sleeves 15 and 16, and the lengths of the post is such that they will extend upwardly through the tubular hinge means 17, 18 and into the hollow side members 11 and 12 when these members are in axial alignment with the sleeves. The posts 19 and 2% have been indicated in dotted lines in FIGURES 1 and 6 in their position telescoped within the tubular side members 11 and 12.

The lower frame also includes cross-piece 21 extending between the lower ends of the sleeves 15 and .16 and a cross-bar 22 extending between the lower ends of the posts 19 and 2% of the lower frame. Securely fastened to the cross-bar 22 is a locking clip 23, which can be placed over the cross piece 21 to securely hold the lower frame in its telescoped position.

A seat has been indicated generally at 24, one end of which is pivotally secured between the hinge means 17 and 13. In the embodiment shown, the seat includes the cross pieces 25 and 26, and the side pieces 27 and 28. The cross piece 25 can in fact be so constructed as to serve as a hinge pin for both the hinge means 17 and 13.

Hingedly secured to the free end of the seat 24 is a leg 29. The drawings have shown the leg 29 as a single U-shaped member. It will of course be understood that this member will be of substantially the same length as the distance from the cross piece 25 to the lowermost ends of the lower frame members 19 and 2% so that the seat 24- will be essentially horizontal.

The braces 3-9 and 31 extend from the lowermost end of the sleeves 15 and 16 to the opposite sides of leg 29. In the embodiment shown, these braces are pivotall mounted about the cross piece 21. In any event, these braces must be of substantially the same length as the side pieces 27 and 28 of the seat, and the braces will be in substantially parallel relationship to the seat. It should by now be apparent that the sleeves 15 and 16, the seat 24, the leg 29, and the braces 3t) and 31 are linked together to form a parallelogram.

The position of the various elements assembled together in this parallelogram linkage is stabilized by the connecting members 32 and 33 which are connected at one end to the free edge of the seat 24 and at the other end to the cross-bar 22 extending between the side rails 1% and 20 of the lowe: frame. In other words, as the posts 19 and 20 are moved downwardly relative to their respective sleeves and 16 and side members 11, 12, they will exert a downwardly force on the parallelogram linkage, acting through the connecting members 32, 33 thereby collapsing this structure. In FIGURE 6, the side rails 19 and 26 have been moved downwardly approximately half way, and it will be seen that the parallelogram as defined by the sleeve 16, the seat side member 28, the leg 29, and the brace 31 is in a partially collapsed position.

Turning now to FIGURES 3 and 4, the structure of the invention has been shown in its stretcher position, in which the parallelogram heretofore described is fully col lapsed. It will be understood that the side members 27 and 28 of the seat, and the braces 30 and 31 will determine the maximum extension of the side rails 19 and of the lower frame. It will of course be understood that the width of the leg 29 and of the seat 24 will necessarily be somewhat less than the distance between the side rails 19 and 2t and between the sleeves 15 and 16, so that in the stretcher position, these elements can lie perfectly fiat and in essentially the plane defined by the back supporting side members 11 and 12. It will also be understood that in this position, the uppermost ends of the side rails 19 and 20 are below the joint in the tubular hinge members 17 and 18. It is therefore possible, as shown in FIGURE 5, to fold the entire unit in half at this point for convenient storage.

The preferred embodiment of the invention will include a pair of wheels 34 journaled in the casters 35 which are pivotally mounted about the side rails 19 and 20 of the lower frame. As most clearly seen in either FIGURE 2 or 7, the side rails 19 and 20 are each provided with a stop 36 having the teeth 37. (This stop 36 abuts against the sleeve 15 and 16 when the structure of the invention is in the chair position.) Each caster 35 is provided with a mating notch 38 (or a plurality of notches as the case may be); the side rails 19 and 20 are also provided with an end stop 39. Between the stop 39 and the caster 35 is a spring 40, normally urging the caster 35 and its notches 38 into engagement with the teeth 37. The wheel structure will then be positively locked in the position shown in FIGURES 1 and 4. For storage purposes, the casters may be moved against the resistance of the springs 40 until the notches 38 are out of engagement with the teeth 37, and may be pivoted to the position shown in FIGURES 4 and 7. As noted earlier in this specification, the handles 14 are joined to the side members 11 and 12 by a similar construction. Thus as shown in FIGURE 4, the handles are engaged in their normal use position. And in FIGURE 3, the handles have been swung inwardly to their storage position.

As is conventional in the construction of emergency equipment, the frame heretofore described must be covered with a fabric or similar material to provide suitable body supporting surfaces. Since this aspect of the invention is conventional, it will not be described in detail. However, as shown in FIGURE 3, a back supporting surface is indicated at 41. This piece of material will extend between the side members 11 and 12, and between the seat cross-piece and the cross member 13. As is apparent in the drawing, portions such as shown at 42 will be cut away to allow freedom of action at the hinges 17 and 18 and somewhat larger portions are cut away as indicated at 43 to provide a suitable handle member. In the preferred embodiment of this invention, the seat will be formed from a rectangular, relatively rigid material, such as for example, a piece of plywood or fiberboard covered with suitable padding. The seat, indicated at 44, will be secured between the side pieces 27 and 28.

Finally, a leg supporting surface indicated at 45 is provided. This portion is similar to the back supporting surface 41, and will be secured about the rectangle formed by the seat cross-piece 26, the cross-bar 22, and the connecting members 32 and 33. This particular arrangement of the leg supporting portion has been found to have an unusual advantage. That is, when the invention is in the chair position as shown in FIGURE 1, and is used for carrying a patient up or down stairs, this construction will keep the patients legs and feet out of the attendants way. One attendant will grasp the cross-piece 13 to lift the back of the chair, and a second attendant will grasp the leg 29. Since the leg supporting portion 45 is extending between the braces 32 and 33, the patients legs and feet will be in the unique foot well formed thereby and out of the attendants way.

It will now be apparent that the device of this invention can be characterized by its extreme versatility. Many modifications will of course occur to the skilled worker in the art. Hence, while this invention has been escribed in terms of the single exemplary embodiment, no limitations are intended except insofar as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and what is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A combination stretcher and stair chair comprising a back supporting frame section having a pair of spaced apart tubular frame members defining the opposite sides of said frame section, an intermediate frame section com: prising a pair of sleeve members hingedly connected to the inner ends of said tubular frame members, said sleeve members having an extended position in which they lie in axial prolongation of said tubular frame members, a lower frame section having a pair of side members telescopioally received in the opposite ends of said sleeve members, said lower frame section being movable from a retracted position in which the inner end portions of said side members extend through said sleeve member and are received in the tubular frame members of said back supporting frame section to an extended position in which the said side members are withdrawn from said tubular frame members, seat means pivotally connected to said intermediate frame section,'and linkage means hingedly connecting said seat means to said lower frame section, said seat means being collapsible against said intermediate frame section when said lower frame section is in the extended position and movable to an erected position when said lower frame section is retracted.

2. The combination stretcher and stair chair claimed in claim 1 including means for locking said lower frame section in its retracted position.

3. The combination stretcher land stair chair claimed in claim 2 wherein the linkage means connecting said seat means to said lower frame section comprises a pair of rigid connecting members extending between the opposite sides of said lower frame section and the opposite sides of said seat means, and a patient leg supporting surface extending between said connecting members.

4. The combination stretcher and stair chair claimed in claim 3 including wheels mounted on the ends of said sleeve members adjacent said lower frame section, and handle members mounted on the opposite sides of said upper frame section, and means mounting said wheels and handle members for movement from an operative to an inoperative position.

5. A combination stretcher and stair chair comprising a back supporting frame section having a pair of spaced apart tubular frame members defining the opposite sides of said frame section, an intermediate frame section comprising a pair of sleeve members hingedly connected to the inner ends of said tubular frame members, said sleeve members having an extended position in which they lie in axial prolongation of said tubular frame members, a lower frame section having a pair of side members telescopically received in the opposite ends of said sleeve members, said lower frame section being movable from an extended position in which said side members lie solely within said sleeve members to a retracted position in which the inner ends of said side members are received in the tubular frame members of said back supporting frame, a seat member hingedly connected to said intermediate frame section at the end thereof adjacent said back supporting frame section, a leg defining member hingedly connected to the outer end of said seat, brace members extending between the remote end of said leg member and the end of said intermediate frame section adjacent said lower frame section, and linkage means extending between the outer end of said seat and said lower frame section, said linkage means acting to collapse said seat against said intermediate frame section when said lower frame section is moved to its extended position, and acting to move said seat to an erected position when said lower said frame section is moved to its retracted position.

6. The combination stretcher and stair chair claimed in claim 5 including locking means for detachably securing said lower frame section in its retracted position.

7. The combination stretcher and stair chair clairned in claim 6 wherein said locking means includes a cross-piece connected to the lower ends of said sleeve members and defining a part of said intermediate frame section, a crossbar connecting the lower ends of said side members and defining a part of said lower frame section, and a locking clip secured to said cross-bar and adapted to engage said cross-piece.

8. The combination stretcher and stair chair claimed in claim 7 wherein said linkage means comprises rigid connecting members pivotally connected at their opposite ends to the opposite sides of said seat and said lower frame section, and a leg supporting material extending between connecting members.

9. The combination stretcher and stair chair claimed in claim 8 wherein the hinged connection between the intermediate frame section and the back supporting frame section includes abutment means operative, when the tubular frame members of the back supporting frame section are in axial alignment with the sleeve members of the intermediate frame section, to prevent movement of the back forming frame section in the direction of the seat, whereby said frame sections will define an essentially planar load bearing stretcher when said lower frame section is in its extended position.

10. The combination stretcher and stair chair claimed in claim 9 wherein the width of said seat is less than the distance between said sleeve members, whereby said seat lies between said sleeve members when in its collapsed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,699,557 Gravatt Jan. 18, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 280,032 Switzerland Apr. 16, 1952 813,987 France Mar. 8, 1937 

1. A COMBINATION STRETCHER AND STAIR CHAIR COMPRISING A BACK SUPPORTING FRAME SECTION HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED APART TUBULAR FRAME MEMBERS DEFINING THE OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID FRAME SECTION, AN INTERMEDIATE FRAME SECTION COMPRISING A PAIR OF SLEEVE MEMBERS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE INNER ENDS OF SAID TUBULAR FRAME MEMBERS, SAID SLEEVE MEMBERS HAVING AN EXTENDED POSITION IN WHICH THEY LIE IN AXIAL PROLONGATION OF SAID TUBULAR FRAME MEMBERS, A LOWER FRAME SECTION HAVING A PAIR OF SIDE MEMBERS TELESCOPICALLY RECEIVED IN THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID SLEEVE MEMBERS, SAID LOWER FRAME SECTION BEING MOVABLE FROM A RETRACTED POSITION IN WHICH THE INNER END PORTIONS OF SAID SIDE MEMBERS EXTEND THROUGH SAID SLEEVE MEMBER AND ARE RECEIVED IN THE TUBULAR FRAME MEMBERS OF SAID BACK SUPPORTING FRAME SECTION TO AN EXTENDED POSITION IN WHICH THE SAID SIDE MEMBERS ARE WITHDRAWN FROM SAID TUBULAR FRAME MEMBERS, SEAT MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID INTERMEDIATE FRAME SECTION, AND LINKAGE MEANS HINGEDLY CONNECTING SAID SEAT MEANS TO SAID LOWER FRAME SECTION, SAID SEAT MEANS BEING COLLAPSIBLE AGAINST SAID INTERMEDIATE FRAME SECTION WHEN SAID LOWER FRAME SECTION IS IN THE EXTENDED POSITION AND MOVABLE TO AN ERECTED POSITION WHEN SAID LOWER FRAME SECTION IS RETRACTED. 